WEBVTT NDARY AFRICAN AMERICAN MUSICARTISTS.WLWT NEWS 5'S ALEXIS ROGERS HASA LOOK AT WHY THIS EVENT IS SOSPECIAL.ALEXIS: MUSIC RUNS DEEP THROUGHCINCINNATI.>> THIS MONTH IS BLACK MUSICMONTH NATIONALLY.THE FOUNDER OF THE MONTH MR. EDWRIGHT LIVES HERE IN CINCINNATI.ALEXIS: PATTI COLLINS HAS SEENTHE ESSENCE OF BLACK MUSIC.CREATED IN THE QUEEN CITY THENSHARED ACROSS THE WORLD.JAMES TAUGHT BOOTSY WHAT THEHONE MEANT.THAT ACTUALLY MEANT THAT DOWNBEAT.BOOTSY TOOK IT FROM JAMES BROWNTO CHAOTIC WHO TOOK IT TO GEORGECLINTON.THAT CHANGED HOW MUSIC WASPERFORMED AND PLAYED.ALEXIS: THE TRENDSETTING MUSICALTORCH CONTINUES TO BE PASSED ONTO YOUNGER GENERATIONS LIKEOUIWEY COLLINS AND THE FUNKSQUAD.>> MY DAD WAS ALSO TOURINGMUSICIANS.ALSO WITH BOOTSY AND PARLIAMENT.FOR ME IT IS REALLY SOMETHING.ME AND OUIWEY GOT TO GROW UPWATCHING THIS.>> FOR THEM TO START WHAT THEYDID, ESPECIALLY THE FUNKMOVEMENT WHICH HAD LOVE ANDHAPPINESS AND PEACE BEHIND IT.THAT IS A BEAUTIFUL THING.I BELIEVE THE WORLD NEEDS MOREOF THAT.ALEXIS: THE CELEBRATION OF THEWIDE SPREAD CONTRIBUTIONS OFBLACK MUSIC IS WHY HUNDREDS WILLBE CELBRATING THIS WEEKEND ATTHE CELEBRATION OF BLACK MUSICON FRIDAY AND SATURDAY>> WE CONTINUE TO CELEBRATE THEACCOMPLISHMENT OF SO MANY GREATARTISTS.AND WE CONTINUE TO ALLOW THEWORLD TO KNOW HOW IMPORTANT THECULTURE OF BLACK MUSIC IS INCINCINNATIALEXIS: SHEDDING A LIGHT ON THEMUSIC THAT'S THE BACKBONE OF MANY GENRES.>> IT IS IN OUR HEARTS, IT IS INOUR ROOTS.ITS AN HONOR TO HAVE THISPRIVILEGE AND BE APART OF IT IN2017ALEXIS: THAT'S BEEN BRINGINGCOMMUNITES TOGETHER FOR DECADES.>> MUSIC IS A UNIVERSALLANGUAGE.WE CAN EITHER TEAR DOWN WITH THEMUSIC OR WE CAN BUILD UP.I LIKE INSPIRING AND BUILDINGUP.ALEXIS: THERE ARE SO MANY BLACKMUSICAL LEGENDS TO CELEBRATE, ESPECIALLY THOSE FROM RIGHTHERE IN THE CINCINNATI AREA.MANY OF THE CELEBRATIONS WILL

Patti Collins is no stranger to black music legends. She has seen the essence of black music up close, especially well-known works from her husband, Bootsy Collins, that has been shared across the world.

“James taught Bootsy what the hone meant. That actually meant that down beat. Bootsy took it from James Brown to Chaotic, who took it to George Clinton. That changed how music was performed and played,” Collins said.

The trendsetting musical torch continues to be passed on to younger generations like Ouiwey Collins and the Funk Squad

“For them to start what they did, especially the funk movement, which had love and happiness and peace behind it, that is a beautiful thing. I believe the world needs more of that,” Patti Collins said.

The celebration of the wide-spread contributions of black music is why hundreds will be celebrating this weekend at the celebration of black music on Friday and Saturday.

“We continue to celebrate the accomplishment of so many great artists. And we continue to allow the world to know how important the culture of black music is in Cincinnati,” Abercrumbie said.

Patti and Ouiwey Collins said they are excited people are celebrating the music that has been the backbone of so many genres and bringing communities together for decades.

“It is in our hearts. It is in our roots. It’s an honor to have this privilege and be a part of it in 2017,” Patti Collins said.

“Music is a universal language. We can either tear down with the music or ;we can build up. I like inspiring and building up,” Ouiwey Collins said.

Tickets for the Celebration of Black Music are on sale. Click here for info.